I have had the pleasure of working with Heather for several years. Heather exemplifies nursing in all that she does. She is constantly thinking about how she and her team can better serve our patients to ensure they receive safe, high-quality, and compassionate care. Heather is detail-oriented and does all that she can to ensure patients receive her best every day. Heather’s critical thinking and clinical skills are top-notch; she thoroughly assesses and analyzes what is happening, all while putting the patient at the forefront of all that she does.

Heather does not shy away from advocating to ensure patients’ needs are addressed by providers and other members of the care team. She isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions or address uneasy topics because, in her mind, she needs to make sure the patient is the priority. Heather’s shifts are often filled with complicated, acutely ill patients, but because she is working, I know her patients are in her capable and compassionate hands. Heather consistently brings forward concerns and does not seek to apply blame; she recognizes that we can always do things better for our patients. When Heather recognizes an opportunity for improvement, she isn’t afraid to speak up to ensure everyone can learn and improve. Heather also ensures her teammates have what they need to be successful. She consistently asks how she can help and mentors other staff to share learnings from her experiences.

A recent example of Heather’s exemplary care was a patient who had been slowly declining during their stay. Heather not only recognized the patient’s declining status but also coordinated with multiple providers, non-nursing departments, and outside vendors to ensure the patient was put first. Upon recognizing a change in condition, Heather immediately shared what was happening with the providers and ensured the patient immediately received the necessary interventions. Heather did all of this with ease while also providing top-quality care to her other patients, who probably did not know everything Heather was juggling.

This is just one example of the many patients that Heather has had an impact on. Even though Heather is very experienced, she still strives to learn more, remains curious, and continuously reflects on how we can better care for our patients. Heather has shared how appreciative she is when patients and families comment on the quality of care she provides; I truly hope she knows the impact she has on patients, providers, and her team. For all of this and more, I hope you consider recognizing Heather for Hudson Hospital’s first DAISY Award.